INFORMATION GUIDE AFTER EARTHQUAKE(DIAST)
On February 6, at 04:17, an earthquake of 7.7 magnitude occurred in Kahramanmaraş Pazarcık center. Earthquake; It was felt intensely in the surrounding provinces, especially in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Malatya and Adana. Then, another 7.6 earthquake occurred at 13:24 in the town of Elbistan in Kahramanmaraş province.
This information guide has been prepared for people who are directly or indirectly affected by the earthquake.
Entrance
disasters,
They are usually sudden, devastating, time-limited events that affect the whole society. If they cause death, injury, homelessness of many people, interruption of vital services, they are called disasters.
Psychological Trauma,
A serious threat to the physical integrity or life of the person, family or relatives, sudden damage to the home or community, witnessing the serious injury or death of another person, Stressful events are traumatic events.
Emergencies and Psychological Effects of Disasters,
It may vary according to the characteristics of the event, the environment before and during the event, the individual experiences of the people and the family/social support mechanisms.
Reactions After Earthquake:
STRESS SYMPTOMS AFTER EMERGENCIES ARE ORDINARY REACTIONS TO AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT.
The following reactions are possible psychological reactions:
1. Emotional Reactions: Shock, fear, sadness, anger, helplessness, guilt, shame, hopelessness, worthlessness, anxiety, worry, regret, pessimism, doubt, insecurity, inadequacy, loneliness, foreignness, dullness/numbness.
2.Mental Reactions: Denial, disorientation, distraction, forgetfulness, disturbing dreams, suicidal thoughts, vivid images of the traumatic event, reliving the trauma, hypnotic trance, dreamlike perception, distorted/mistaken thoughts (e.g. “I can't trust anyone!, Because of me” it happened!”).
3.Physical Responses: Headache, chest pain, nausea, heart/throat tightness, sensitivity to noise, increased/decreased appetite, shortness of breath, fatigue, dry mouth, sleep problems, increased/loss of appetite, tremor, palpitations.
4. Behavioral Reactions: Sudden and/or overreaction, introversion, avoidance, indifference, crying or inability to cry a lot, carelessness, taking risks without thinking (eg, driving too fast, going to dangerous places), alcohol and substance use, automatic movement.
Stages of Psychological Trauma
Psychological traumas;
1.Acute Stage
2.Response Stage
3. Recovery Phase
4. Adaptation Phase
in 4 stages.
EMERGENCY AID PERIOD (ACUTE PERIOD)
The Emergency Aid Period (Acute Period) is the period immediately after the traumatic event, which starts immediately after the disaster, lasts for about 3 months (this period may vary). Fear and bewilderment are in the foreground.
Traumatic reactions that may occur during this period can be listed as follows:
a. Sudden physiological arousal, hypersensitivity and a sense of limitation,
b. Problems of thinking logically and making decisions,
c. Problems with memory retention and concentration,
D. Every apparent situation seems unreal (dissociation),
to. It is the petrification of emotions (bluntness) and short-term shock.
How Do You Feel During the Acute Period?
- It is very natural for you to be affected spiritually by experiencing the negative effects of the earthquake.
- Not only you, but everyone in the earthquake zone experienced all these.
- Like you, everyone felt scared and helpless.
- Such as not knowing what you are doing or where you are, confusion, acting automatically without thinking, not feeling your emotions, not being able to react.
- You may show signs of excessive tension due to insomnia and fatigue.
All these problems complicate your life in the coming weeks and if you are having difficulties in coping, you can apply to mental health specialists in the field or health centers with mental health specialists who are ready to help you.
2.Response Phase(2nd Phase): It is a period of adjustment that lasts for several months starting from the 2nd week of the traumatic event (sometimes it can take longer). Disturbing symptoms and denial are in the foreground.
Psychological reactions that can be seen during this period:
• Avoiding the situation,
•Dreams and nightmares,
• Tension, fear,
• Increased restlessness, self-exclusion from society and depression,
Being covered with emotions such as trying to survive, guilt and mourning,
is in the form.
3. Recovery Phase (3rd Phase): It may take up to a year. Anger and disappointment are in the foreground as a result of not fulfilling the expectations. It can be expected that the sense of unity will decrease and individual problems will increase.
At this stage;
• Continuation of the reactions given in the reaction phase at a lower intensity,
• Increasing interest in daily life,
• Active participation in future plans,
visible.
4. Adaptation Phase (4th Phase): It is a period of restructuring and can sometimes take years.
WHAT CAN YOUR CHILDREN EXPERIENCE AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE?
It can feel extreme fear, helplessness.
He may not be able to perceive what is happening around him.
Not speaking or a decrease in emotional reactions, dullness, absent-mindedness may be observed.
On the contrary, behaviors such as being indifferent to the event, playing games and singing can be seen.
For children, both types of reactions are possible and natural. He may not remember what happened during and after the earthquake.
It may be as if you are reliving the moment of the earthquake (fear, shouting, trembling, palpitations).
May be afraid of being alone, closed places, and the dark.
There may be insomnia, fearful dreams, and startle from sudden noises. May act like a younger child (inseparable from parents, bedwetting, insistence, and stubbornness).
Nausea, stomachache and headache, frequent urination, loss of appetite can be seen.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD?
The most basic need of your children is to feel safe and secure.
Do not keep your children away from you, meet their needs for nutrition, shelter and attention directly.
The first condition of being able to help your children is to be as calm, reassuring and consistent as you can. Remember that your children need your closeness more than ever (do not neglect bodily closeness, holding hands, hugs).
On the other hand, you should maintain this intimacy without turning it into an overprotective one.
Keep in mind that it is in their best interest to give your children age-appropriate tasks and responsibilities that they can do.
Encourage him to talk about what he heard, saw and experienced during and after the earthquake.
Listen to their concerns and respond non-judgmentally and empathetically. Preschool and early school children may have thoughts after a bad event that they are the cause, be firm and say it's not their fault. Let them express their feelings such as fear, anger, even encourage them, do not prevent them from crying, and answer their repetitive questions.
Explain that what you are experiencing is perfectly natural and not a disease.
“Passed” to put your kids at ease. or, instead of saying "Nothing will happen", give information about what to do in case of possible earthquakes.
FOR THE PERSON DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE DISASTER
Do The Following:
Provide repetitive, simple, accurate information (security).
Listen when they want to convey their own stories and feelings.
There is no one way to feel good (calm).
Be compassionately friendly even when people feel bad.
Provide accurate information about the work related to the recovery of the effects of disaster or trauma.
Help survivors build relationships with their close friends and loved ones.
Bring family, children, parents and other relatives together whenever possible.
Encourage them to feel self-sufficient in meeting their own needs.
Refer people to government or non-state organizations. Provide information on how and what they can provide and how they can achieve it.
If people express fears and concerns differently, and different needs are reported, indicate that services are available.
Don't Do These!
Don't force people to tell their stories, especially to go into personal details (reducing the silence).
Don't give simple reassurances like "Everything will be fine" or "at least you're alive."
Do not dictate to people what to do, such as you will feel this, do this.
Do not tell survivors why they are experiencing these events, regarding their personal behavior or beliefs.
Don't make promises you can't keep.
Do not criticize existing service and recovery activities when people need these services.
How Can You Help Remotely?
Donate blood.
Try to spread the right information by paying attention to the false information on social media.
Follow official institutions and non-governmental organizations.
Get information from trusted sources.
Be sure to inquire about sources of information.
Avoid polarizing language.
Support relief efforts.
Take care not to occupy the phone lines unnecessarily.
If you want to provide financial support, do it through authorized institutions.
Basic Principles for Mental Health in Disaster
Post-disaster stress symptoms are normal reactions to an abnormal event.
• Mental health terms and labels cannot be applied to post-disaster responses.
• Disaster mental health studies should be appropriate for the society to be served.
• Interventions should be appropriate to the stage of the disaster.
•Social support systems have a very important role in the recovery process.
SUGGESTIONS
METHODS TO COPE WITH TENSION
Contrary to popular belief, methods that aim to prevent or reduce the stress symptoms that arise due to the challenging period experienced do not aim to get rid of some negative emotions (such as fear, sadness, anger); It starts with trying to notice and understand these negative emotions.
In addition to physical activity and nutrition, which should be considered in stress management, various relaxation techniques are evidence-based methods recommended to be used in coping with traumatic stress (WHO 2013).
Diaphragm Breath
Diaphragm breaths taken several times a day and at least five full breaths each time strengthen the blood and cells of the oxygen taken into the body; it cleans the polluted air trapped in the cells during stress; It is reported that it can be good for problems such as asthma, insomnia, low energy, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart diseases and migraine. It is important not to confuse these exercises, which have proven to be effective in stress management, with practices that have no scientific basis, such as "breathing therapy".
Trauma is something that comes suddenly and is beyond our control. On the contrary, passive eye-closed relaxation can cause anxiety as it prevents us from controlling external stimuli. It is recommended to do relaxation movements on a comfortable seat, not lying down, in a position where the eye is open and can see the door exit point, if any.
– Sit comfortably or lie on the bed.
– Inhale through your nose, spreading it over four seconds.
– Hold the air you inhale for two seconds.
– Release your breath, again through your nose, radiating to six seconds.
– Take a short break and inhale again through your nose for four seconds, hold for two seconds and then exhale for six seconds.
– Keep trying.
Grounding
The aim of this technique, which allows to control the thoughts that enter the mind involuntarily, is to provide awareness about the environment and our body through our senses and bring it back to the present moment.
Sit in a comfortable position with your hands and feet free.
• Start breathing slowly and deeply.
• Look around and repeat in your mind the names of five objects that do not cause you any discomfort or stress.
• Continue to breathe slowly and deeply.
• Now listen to the sounds you hear around you and think of five sounds that do not cause you any discomfort or stress.
• Continue to breathe slowly and deeply.
• And now try to pay attention to your bodily sensations and how you are feeling, and think about the five sensations that do not cause you any discomfort or stress.
• Breathe slowly and deeply.